Switch actuating means



March 10, 1953 A. H. KIBIGER SWITCH ACTUATING MEANS 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed April 1, 1949 INVENTOR: A]: THUR HKIB r5512.

March 10, 1953 A. H. KlB IG ER SWITCH ACTUATINC? MEANS Filed April 1, 1949 INVENTOR: ARTHUR HKIBIEER.

W ATTY Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH ACTUATING MEANS Arthur H. Kibiger, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Willys-Overland Motors, Inc., Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in manipulating devices for use in manually closing switches of electrical circuits and more especially to a relatively movable member carried by the steering wheel assembly of an automotive vehicle for manually closing a circuit to energize a signal device as for example, a horn or audible sound producing device.

In connection with circuit closing devices heretofore used on automotive vehicles for energizing a horn or audible signal, comparatively small buttons axially disposed with respect to the steering post have been used. Another form of conventional circuit closing device embodies a member axially aligned with the steering post having radially extending arms supporting an annulus or ring in juxtaposition with the periphery of the steering wheel. These prior constructions have certain disadvantages which have been a source of annoyance to vehicle operators. example, in order for the operator to depress the button arranged centrally of the steering wheel, he must remove his hand from the steering wheel to do so. In operating the annulus or ring type actuator, the ring must be depressed a considerable distance to elfect the closing of the switch. Furthermore, such ring construction is expensive to manufacture and presents an obstruction which ofttimes is inadvertently depressed and interr'eres with the facile use of the steering wheel by the operator.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a circuit closing device especially adapted for use and assembly with a vehicle steering wheel wherein the circuit closing means may be easily and quickly operated or manipulated with a minimum of eiiort and movement of the hand of the operator.

Another obiect of the-invention resides in the provision of acircuit closing device for vehicle horns or signals associatedwith' a vehicle steering wheel having laterally arranged grip bars or spokes, the device being especially configurated and arranged to be operated b slight pressure of the thumb of the operator without necessitating the removal of the 'operators grip upon the bar of the steering wheel;

Another obiect of the invention is the provision of a horn or signal c rcuit closing device centrally disposed with respect to the vehicle steering wheel and configurated to beadvantageously manipulated by the thumb of the vehicle operator, the configuration of the means including an annular portion fashioned so as to m nimize tendency for the thumb to slip-from the manipulating means.

For L Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a manipulating member adapted to be depressed to circuit closing position for en'- ergizing a horn or other electrically energizable unit which presents a minimum of obstruction, permitting free movement of the arms and hands of a vehicle operator and is not liable to be inadvertently depressed by the operator during rotative movements of the steering wheel.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a circuit closing member for assembly with a vehicle steering wheel arrangement which may be formed of material having light transmitting characteristics and which may be configurated to present attractive designs or characters and the designs or characters coated to present combinations of contrasting colors and present the designs in distinctive relief.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a horn button or signal circuit closing member which may be easily and quickly manufactured by molding processes from thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric resins and which may be configurated with various designs to present a pleasing and attractive appearance.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawing of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a steering wheel and the signal actuatingmember of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View through the steering wheel; steering post and signal actuating means, the section being taken substantially on the line 2-'2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an isometric view showing the arrangement supporting the signal actuating mem ber;

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a portion of the steering wheel and signal actuating member and mounting means therefor, certain parts being shown in section; and

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken substantiallv on the line 5-5of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there is illustrated a vehicle steering column or post ll) in the form of a tube which encloses a shaft H to the upper end of which is connected a steering wheel I2, the lower end being connected to suitable steering gear mechanism (not shown). The

steering wheel l2 has a central hub portion (4 which is telescopingly disposed with respect to the upper end of the post or tube ID as shown in Figure 2. A cup-like member I5 is carried by the post I!) and encloses an antifriction or ball type bearing H, the bearing balls cooperat ing with an inner race 18 disposed adjacent the shaft II. A dust protecting bushing 19 of felt or other .material protects the bearing 11 ,from foreign matter.

The steering Wheel [2 is preferably formed with an annular portion or rim l5 integrally connected to the hub M by a pair of laterally extending grip bars l8, the'structure being molded of resinous plastic mat-erialasfor example, tenite or similar material. Integrally molded with the hub portion thereof is a metal bushing M. The molded resin of the wheel assemblyisreinforced by a core structure 28 of steel wire or red .embedded in the resin. The upper end of the shaft I I is formed witha taper Z3 and aserrated portion 2 3 the serrations extending in ailongitudinal directionand which fit with ,reciprocalserrations formed on the interior wall of thebushing .21! so as toprevent relative rotation betweenthe steering wheel l2 and the Supporting shaft ii. 'The upper end portion of .the shaft I I is formed with a threaded tenon to accommodate a washer 2i and a securing nut 2.8. An expansive coil spring 29 serves to maintain the elements of the antifriction bearing I! in proper position and in assembled condition.

Theupper centralportion of the steering wheel i2 is formed withaj'hojllow chamberfit adapted to accommodate the elements or members of the switcher circuit closingmeans ior energizing the audible signal or horn (not shown). lhe interior walls .of the chamber '30 are formed with integralprojections '32 there being three projections in the embodiment illustrated, which support a component assembly 34 of the switch mechanism illustrated per se in Figure 3. The switch unit 34 is inclusive ,of a bottom plate 36 having a circular recessed or depressed central portion 37. Supported upon "the plate '36 is a sheet metal annulus "39 of undulated configuration as shown in Figure 3, this configuration being inclusive of a plurality of spaced portions 40 being in contact with the plate the intermediate sections between adiacent uniplanar portions being raised to form lands 4!. Positioned between the lands 4,! and the plate 55 are three members or blocks 42 preferably formed of rubber of a semi-rigid character aifording a limited degree of resilience for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The blocks 42, the plate as and the lands 4! are provided with openings to receive spacing members or rivets 44 which extend through said openings, the ends of the members 44 being swaged or riveted over as at it so as to retain the blocks 42, the annulus 33 and plate 35 in a unitary assembly as shown in Figure 3. The portions of the annulus 39 and the plate 35 are provided with aligned openings 4? to receive screws 48 for securing the unit 44 in fixed engagement with the projections '32 integrally formed on the steering wheel l2.

The movable unit of the circuit closing arrangement of my invention includes an element or manipulating portion 50 formed with a depending annular flange portion 5|. The portion 5! is integrally formed with several radial projections 52 which are arranged in'pairs circumferentiall'y spaced as shown in Figure 5. The

projections of each pair or set are spaced vertically as shown in Figures 2 and 4 to form a chan -a cup-like metal member 51 formed with a laterally extending flange 58 which bears against the lower extremity of the flange 5! to position in the upper hollow portion of the tube H is a thimble-like member 6!] enclosing an expansive coil spring 6'! which is disposed beneath a sleeve or bushing 62 formed of insulating material such as hard rubber or the like. Disposed within the hollow interior of the post I l and the bushing is a current conducting cable 94 covered with Jun sulating material and provided at its upper end with a terminal 615, the terminal being configurated with a recess G'fijorsnap interengagement with a hollow metal member 61 with a rounded head or terminal '68 which cooperates with a concave portion 69 formed on the cup-like metal member .51. By this means a circuit is established from a storage battery or sumily of elec trieal energy (not shown) through the cable 54, terminal 65, mem'berfi'l, head 53 and to the cup likemem'ber 51.

The plate 3.6 is electrically connected to the washer 2? and shaft 11 by means of an expansive coil spring H in order to establish a return or ground circuit from "the vehicle frame through the shaft H and plate 35. Circuit closing engagementtfor energizing the horn or signal is had by depressing the manipulating portion of sufiicient resiliency to permit relative downward movement of the depending flange 5! on the cup-like member "51 until the flange 53 on the latter engages the plate 36. Immediately upon release of pressure .upon the manipulating portion or element 5.0 the resilient tongues '54 return the parts to their normal or open circuit positions as shown in Figure 2.

The manipulating member 50 is preferably formed or molded of a resinous plastic such as Lucite or the like which is polymethylmethacrylate, or member 56 may be formed of'cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate but'yrate, polystyrene, or the same may be formed of any rigid thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric resin. In the form illustrated I have found that attractive designs may be incorporated as a part of the manipulating member when the same is made of transparent or transluscent resinous material, coated or modified in certain portions to present reflective or colored portions. With particular reference to Figures 1 and 2 the central circular portion i4 is formed with recesses 15 forming a design or letters 16 as shown in Figure 1. Near the periphery of the manipulating member 55, the lower surface thereof .is designed or configurated with a plurality of circular lands 77 which when viewed through the transparent or transluscent body of member 50 appear as a series of concentric bands. The design at the central section of member 50 lends itself to the adaptation of different colors so as to present an attractive appearance. For example, the recesses 15 may be coated or plated with gold leaf while the lands 79 arranged between the recesses I may be coated with red material, the surface 80 bounding the central design may be coated with a black background and the adjoining surfaces 8| coated with silver. All of the colored coatings above mentioned are preferably backed with a black coating so as to protect the color or reflective material placed directly upon the lower surface of the member 50 as well as to enhance the light reflective characteristics of the coated or plated zones. The lower peripheral zone of the member 50 is formed with a circular recess 82 plated or coated with silver or the like which serves to visually delineate the periphery of member 58 with respect to the adjacent light transmitting portions thereof.

The upper surface of the peripheral zone of member 50 is formed with a raised annular bead or ridge 84 which joins the upper convex surface 85 of member 50 by means of a shallow depression 86 as clearly shown in Figure 1. This construction facilitates the manipulation of member 86 by the vehicle operator to close the circuit to energize the horn or signal in that the operator normally grasping the steering wheel spokes or grip bars l8 need only place the thumb of either hand over the ridge 84 in the shallow annular channel 86 to tilt and depress the member 50 causing some portion of the flange 58 of member 51 to engage with the plate 36 to complete-an electrical energizing circuit. The peripheral zone of the member 50 is spaced above the grip bars I8 9. suflicient distance to permit depression of the member to circuit closing position without interference with the bars or spokes l8. Through this arrangement, the safety of vehicle operation is enhanced as it becomes unnecessary for the operator to remove his hands from the grip bars l8 of the steering wheel in order to close the horn or signal circuit. n is to be noted that the member 50 is of a diameter suflicient to overlie and extend beyond the central hub structure of the steering wheel so as to place the periphery of the member 50 in convenient operating position with respect to the grip bars 18 of the steering wheel. The member 50 being of circular configuration is at all times in a position to be instantly depressed irrespective of the relative turning movement of the steering wheel. Furthermore, the member 50 having a smooth central surface, devoid of projections and the like, presents a configuration which minimizes the liability of inadvertently depressing the member during rotative movements of the steering wheel.

The designs illustrated on the lower surface of the member 50 are merely illustrative and exemplary, it being understood that I contemplate the employment of various designs, configurations and colors, and different combinations of colors without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is apparent that, within the scope of the invention, modifications and diiferent arrangements may be made other than is herein disclosed, and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending all variations thereof.

What I claim is:

A signal switch manipulating means for use with a steering wheel having transversely arranged grip bars connecting a hub portion with a rim portion of the wheel; said switch manipulating means including a circular disk-like member disposed above and in axial relation with said steering wheel, said member having its upper surface of convex configuration bounded by a raised peripheral ridge; said member having a depending annular flange portion resiliently supported by the steering wheel hub portion. and switch contacts respectively carried by the hub portion and said member whereby depression of r the latter effects a closing of the switch means.

ARTHUR H. KIBIGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,913,026 Graff June 6, 1933 1,983,195 Seiler Dec. 14, 1934 2,065,611 Pulleyblank Dec. 29, 1936 2,244,565 Nast June 3, 1941 2,354,857 Gits et al. Aug. 1, 1944 2,376,305 Bauer May 15, 1944 2,454,242 Wharem et al. Nov. 16, 1948 

